5 Steam Cleaners for a Chemical-Free Home

While a variety of all-purpose cleaners and a handful of reusable cleaning cloths can give your home a non-toxic shine, you can simplify the process with a steam cleaner: Just fill with water and use the resulting steam to clean and de-germ everything from your kid's favorite plastic toys to your outdoor furniture, and from upholstered chairs to tiled bathrooms.

One tip: Make sure you're working with a sealed surface; some types of untreated wood can be damaged by a steam cleaner.

1. Haan AllPro

Haan makes a variety of steamers, from mops to garment steamers -- including the Haan AllPro, a handheld home cleaning version designed to steam clean bathrooms, kitchens, vehicles, and more.

The included garment attachment lets you tackle clothes and furniture with the same powerful, chemical-free cleaning. (Haan AllPro, $60)

3. Shark Portable Steam Pocket

Shark's portable version of a steam cleaner -- the Steam Pocket -- comes with a variety of accessories to clean just about any surface in your home, including a wedge for tight corners, a steam duster for sparkling shelves, a scrubbing pad for stuck-on spills (and seven more handy tools).

4. SteamFast Canister Steam Cleaner

The SteamFast Canister steam cleaner may be bulkier than the others on this list, but that gives it one potential advantage: It promises up to 45 minutes of steam time, so you don't have to wait for reheating and you can finish all your cleaning at once.

The extra capacity could come in even handier for bigger jobs -- SteamFast recommends using it to clean barbecues, carpeting, and bathrooms. (SteamFast Canister Steam Cleaner, $120)